Sister Jabou: This report is disturbing. I hope come Saturday the devil will wake up Sunday morning feeling humiliated by the strong vote of confidence for the UDP in Central and Kiang East Constituencies. I just cannot fathom any Gambian supporting a dictatorship that continues to deny them the right to political decency. I appreciate your silence on the latest controversial debate, but I must admit it has been quite lonely without your sisterly advise. Going back to political talk, our strategy in holding a Unity Conference will provide Gambians in the US to show their support for the opposition. At this critical time in our struggle, we cannot afford to be discontented because of our selfish gains. Whether one supports UDP, NRP or PDOIS, our initiative is to provide a political ground in which the opposition can speak in one understanding language. Can you believe that the moron donated a vehicle and D300,000 to the National Youth organization. Where did he get $30,000 from? Is this man just withdrawing money from our treasury without any chain of command? What is the responsibility of the Governor of Central Bank? Why can't the legislation indict moron Jammeh on bribery, corruption and misuse of government funds? I just cannot believe that a man who overthrew a legal government with less that $2 in his pocket can afford to live such a life-style. I thought they said Sir Dawda was corrupt? Naphiyo, Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh ------Original Message------ From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: March 31, 2001 12:37:16 AM GMT Subject: Fwd: "Coup Plotters" Languish in Jail The Independent (Banjul) March 30, 2001 Posted to the web March 30, 2001 Alhagie Mbye Banjul, The Gambia Highly placed sources close to both the Department of State for the Interior and the Central Prisons Department have confirmed to The Independent have described as appalling the condition of four Gambians who were extradited from Senegal in 1997 accused of attempting to overthrow the APRC administration. Also family members of the detained men, the four including one who was released were extradited from Senegal since July 31st 1997 and were held incommunicado for three years until last year when they were allowed to meet with members of their families. Ansu Wally from Wuli, Ebrahima Waa Drammeh alias Bamba from Tujereng, Suwanding Camara from Bondali, Abdurahman Baldeh from Basse and Gibril Jallow, alias Paco from Buiam are said to be held in "very stressful and inhumane conditions" without being charged in any court. Concerned family members called on the authorities to charge the accused persons and try them or release them for the sake of "humanity and justice." However sources close to both Departments acknowledged that one of the accused persons, Suwanding Camara, hired a lawyer who challenged the government on the legality of his continuous detention without legal backing. After a court battle Mr. Camara was subsequently released and is now said to be a freeman. The sources explained that the four detainees who did not contract the service of a lawyer like their former fellow inmate were allowed only an hour's rest for a whole day and given poor food rations and "appalling" toilet facilities. "They re not always given chance to bathe at times and refrained from eating food from family members an open empty gallon is all they use as toilet" one of them claimed. The accused five who were in Liberia were reportedly arrested in Dakar when the Gambian authorities convinced former President Abdou Diouf that the five were urgently wanted in Gambia "for trying to gather arms to overthrow the Jammeh administration." Despite the accused persons' persistent denial of the claims, the current Inspector General of Police, Sankung Badjie, and the former GNA Commander Samsideen Sarr who is currently in exile in the United States including five paramilitary officers went to Dakar to effect their extradition to Banjul. Sources claimed that the accused persons were always "harassed, beaten and tortured" by soldiers and prison officers at Mile II. It added that late last year, the ICRC were allowed to visit them and provide them with two blankets each, a two inch mattress. The sources added that despite numerous complaints by the detainees, an Interior department top-notch only conduct a visit to the prisons twice a year but pay no heed to their complains. Family members of the men also complained that their detained relatives who were held in Senegal for a year, were detained at Cent Meter Camp (100m camp) in Dakar Central Prison, where they were reportedly freer and better looked after. They were provided with proper food from friends and family members and allowed to rest from 8 am to 5 pm outside the prisons a family member of one of the detained men said. They noted that in Senegal the coup suspects were also allowed to listen to news and read newspapers, drink 'ataya' and smoke cigarette. "But in The Gambia any officer, who brings a copy of a newspaper, magazine or a radio set or offer them cigarettes are sacked with immediate effect" they noted. Family members who said they were shaken by the experience called on the international community and human right concerns, such as Amnesty International, the donor community and The Gambia Bar Association to intervene so that the suspects are either released or charged. When contacted, a senior official at the Interior Department who refused to be named confirmed the continuing detention of the four men. "I have just been reading it in the papers. It is true that they are being held there but don't ever quote me in your newspaper" he said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Copyright © 2001 The Independent. 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